How vitamin D can help you to build good health
Sponsored by the National Breast Cancer Institute, the research suggests that women with breast cancer and low levels of vitamin D show an increased risk of the cancer spreading and lower rates of survival, as compared to women with breast cancer and adequate vitamin D.
According to the study, only 24 percent of the 512 subjects with breast cancer had adequate levels of vitamin D at the time of diagnosis. For those with low levels of this critical vitamin, overall survival was 73 percent worse, and the rate of cancer spread was 94 percent worse than those women with adequate vitamin D.
The Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) for vitamin D is 200 IU up to age 50, 400 IU up to age 70 and 600 IU for those age 70 and older. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends greater intake — 400 to 800 IU up to age 50, then 800 to 1,000 IU for those age 50 and beyond.
From bone health and diabetes to blood pressure and depression, vitamin D plays a vital role in overall health.
In the winter months, throughout much of North America, the conversion of sunlight to vitamin D does not occur in efficient way so food and vitamin supplements must be used.
It looks as though most everyone should be supplementing their diet with vitamin D to achieve adequate intakes.
